Student services fee—a shopper’s bargain
by Michael Villarreal, reporter

    The other day I was doing what I do best—being nosey/eavesdropping that sort of thing—and I just happened to overhear one student complaining to another regarding the lack of equipment in the game room.

   As always, this sort of situation gets me to thinking. Are we being deprived? Are we getting our money’s worth?

   Well, since I wasn’t doing much that day, I decided to look into this issue further, The first thing I decided to do was inquire about our student services fee.

   A quick look at page 17 in the college catalog under tuition and fees showed that we pay $1 per semester hour to a maximum of $10 per semester. Now that I know what I’m paying, let’s take a look at what I get for my $10.

   Once again I used my catalog and flipped to page 21, where I found a listing of all the student services offered.

   Services included counseling, testing, student activities, recreational sports, health services, special services, rehabilitation assistance and disability support services. Students can also get assistance or information from financial aid, career and employment services, student publications, parking facilities, veterans services and the campus police department.

   Now it would be up to the individual student as to how many of these services are actually utilized.

   As for myself, I used more than at least 90 percent of the services offered.

   Being the inquisitive person that I am, I decided to compare TCC student service fees with those of four-year universities. It was my suspicion that the four-year schools would charge more.

   However, it was not until I did my research that I realized just how much more.

   I decided to make a few calls and inquire on the cost of student services at a few schools. First, I called two state schools—the University of North Texas (UNT) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

   Service fees at UNT are currently $10 per semester hour with a maximum of $150. UTA collects $9 per semester hour in student service fees with a maximum of $108.

   Still curious and pleased with the $10 student service fee that TCC charges, I called Texas Women’s University (TWU) and Texas Christian University (TCU). TWU charges $15 per semester hour in student service fees with a maximum fee of $144.

   TCU emerged on the far side of the pocket book. That private institution charges $111 per semester hour in student service fees.

   It did not take me long to confirm what I already knew—TCC provides quality services at a reasonable price.

   Many TCC students will most assuredly go on to four-year universities to continue their education. When they arrive at that larger school with its larger tuition and larger student body, they will probably realize the value of the services and education they received while at TCC

   If you don’t agree with me, just think about how many times you have paid $1 per game to play pool. Or how about the free movies TCC offers?

   On the academic side of student life, consider the testing services offered through the counseling center. If you were not a student at TCC and needed career counseling assistance, you would have to pay for these same tests at the Texas Employment Commission.

   Ever paid for a tutor?

   Tutors cost anywhere from $10-$40 per hour but are free in TCC’s learning centers.

   Have you ever taken advantage of the student activities events, which often offer you the opportunity to hear live bands and receive free food and drinks?

   Ever been to the professional lecture series offered on campus? This semester we have heard politicians, authors, scientists, historians and motivational speakers. These, too, are made possible through your student services fee.

   What if you were injured at your job and could not take notes for your class. Well, disability support services will provide you with either a note taker or a tape recorder. How much does all of this cost you? A mere $10 if you are a student at TCC.

   As a consumer, I thought that if I paid more, I should get more, right? The answer to this question is no.

   All of the universities I surveyed did not offer any more services or activities than TCC. Most even charge additional fees for services that are free or included in TCC’s one-size-fits-all $10 fee.

   For example, all of the schools I surveyed charge an additional amount for a parking permit, which is included in TCC’s $10 student service fee.

   Moreover, student-to-staff ratios are higher at the four-year schools. This higher ratio means that services are provided to the masses and generally are more impersonal.

   I am not claiming or even trying to imply that services offered at our neighboring universities are poor or substandard. The student-to-staff ratio comparison just further proves that services at TCC are a good value.

   Many people say you get what you pay for.

   Well, in my opinion, you get more than what you pay for at TCC.